(Almost) detained at the airport
Until we leave on the 8th of february we are staying at the home of a good friend. Sarah is a busy woman with a full life but has generously made room for us. And we in turn seem to have completely taken over her home. Sitting in the loungroom I am surrounded by toys, unpaid bills, overdue library books, lists of things to do, piles of unfolded clothes and nappies, computer bits and our half-packed packs. Somewhere around here is our 1 year old child, I can hear his little muffled voice.
Leaving the country is so easy in the movies. Throw suitcase out of cupboard and onto bed. Toss clothes into suitcase randomly whilst checking window to see if wild band of gun-happy mexicans have yet to arrive. Slap suitcase shut and tuck passport into back pocket whilst checking window to see if herd of brain-eating camels have yet to arrive. Run to car, drive to airport, checking revision mirror for swarm of bird-flu infested chickens. Have brief yet earnest pleadings with airline staff before LEAVING THE COUNTRY. Easy-peasy.
It has taken Timshel and I MONTHS to leave our beloved country.
I think we are getting there though; slowly sorting through all those little tasks that need to be done. Like our tax. We have finally filed the numerous (close to 10!) outstanding tax returns that were overdue. Our accountant assured us that a few years ago that kind of administrative neglect would of seen us detained at the airport. Eeek. What about all those bohemian types that shunned the tedium of real life but still fluttered about the world like excited moths? I don’t think THEY did their tax.